Murphy out of WT again

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/12/03 at 9:50am

Just learned Donna was out of WT last night, causing pandomonium at the box office. Much speculation about whether it's polyps, lack of stamina, or singing a score that Russell only had to half-talk. Having seen the show only on Sunday, I don't think it's the score's demands. Ruth has lots of down time.

She may be having a predictable mini-relapse that people come down with after rebounding (too) fast. (Didn't Bernadette fall prey to this syndrome? She went in, then had to miss again?) My guess is, if she's out this weekend, returns will be plentiful. You don't get ads that say "A superwoman walks among you, down on your knees, citizens of b'way" every day. People paying 100 bucks are getting a revamped Encores-styled staging; without the superwoman, they're bound to wonder: is it worth it?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/13/03 at 12:10am

And yet, audiences in general seemed pleased tonight--everyone asks how many times Linda has gone on. They are shocked that it is so few as they think she is great.

[magruder]

Posted: 12/13/03 at 6:54am

Despite what some people say about the quality of the writing of Wonderful Town, Ruth is almost a can't-miss role. I've seen productions of Wonderful Town everywhere, from community theatres to professional stagings, and I've never seen an ineffective Ruth. (I have to say though, I preferred Catherine Cox's manic Ruth in Goodspeed's revival a decade or so ago over Donna Murphy, although Murphy does a lot of inventive things in "Swing!" that I enjoyed. Still, Roz Russell's dry, effortless throwaway delivery in the kinescope blows 'em all away).

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/13/03 at 9:36am

I'm with you Magruder. The role is a little gem, but it will always belong to Russell to me. Still, people truly adore Donna, and I pray her health returns so she can continue to please them. This is a big moment in her career, and if her audiences can't find her, it could hurt her, even if her absences are justified.